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The Lark Ascending
Out of abyss emerges the matrix
Primordial egg of existence
Diaphanous womb of our universe
Permeated by luminous power of celestial origin
Tempest is released from its fetters
Instantaneous collisions of energy thunderclap in silence
Pristine semina of duality take their stance
Origin of diversity begins
Mirror of endless contemplation crystallizes
As the chrysalis manifests itself
An entity of reflection,
Of spiritual longing takes form
Olamic metamorphosis impels cyclical inertia
Causation begins
Entrails of the nucleus expand and
Break apart releasing the monad
The lark ascends
An ecstatic paean issues forth
Venerating innocence with increasing charm
As resonance illumines Lydian Measures
The lark sojourns
Till elixirs of lengthening vigilance overflow
Then resumes its journey
Curt Doll
(After the Musical Composition
by Ralph Vaughan Williams)
An Esoteric Analysis of The Lark Ascending Illustrated Poem
A Brief Description of the Poem
"Out of Abyss Emerges the Matrix" - The Lark Ascending Poem by Curt Doll
Overview of the Poem
The poem is a response to a profound experience I had during meditation at a spiritual retreat 50 years ago. After returning home while listening to Ralph Vaughan Williams's classic orchestral work, the poem spontaneously appeared to me. Reframing the skylark as a symbol of cosmic creation, consciousness, and the soul's ever expanding ascent into deepening spiritual enlightenment, I was inspired to create a full and complete series of paintings illustrating the poem. Rather than focusing strictly on an English countryside bird, this text treats the lark as the embodiment of life emerging from the primordial void.
Stanza-by-Stanza Literary Breakdown
1. The Primordial Birth of the Cosmos
Out of abyss emerges the matrix
Primordial egg of existence
Diaphanous womb of our universe
Permeated by luminous power of celestial origin
The Imagery: The poem begins with the cosmic void ("abyss") and shifts into ancient creation-myth archetypes-specifically the cosmic primordial egg, a universal symbol representing the container of all potential life before time and form exists.
The Tone: Reverent, heavy, and vast. Words like diaphanous (sheer, translucent) and luminous give the birth of the universe a delicate yet divine quality.
2. The Big Bang and Duality
Tempest is released from its fetters
Instantaneous collisions of energy thunderclap in silence
Pristine semina of duality take their stance
Origin of diversity begins
The Imagery: This section transitions from a quiet womb-state into a dynamic creation-expressing a cosmic storm - a silent Big Bang ("collisions of energy thunderclap in silence"), an expression of the mystery of creation.
The Concept: Semina of duality refers to the seeds of opposing forces (light/dark, matter/antimatter, body/spirit) that split the unified void into a diverse, multifaceted reality.
3. Reflection and Consciousness
Mirror of endless contemplation crystallizes
As the chrysalis manifests itself
An entity of reflection,
Of spiritual longing takes form
The Imagery: The focus moves from raw physical creation inward toward mind and awareness. The chrysalis and the mirror suggest a period of transformation and self-contemplation giving rise to a new spiritual form.
The Concept: The universe is no longer just expanding matter; it has developed the capacity to look back at itself and feel spiritual longing.
Literary Analysis of "Olamic Metamorphosis Impels Cyclical Inertia / Causation Begins"
Before we go on, a quick note on aesthetics and structure of the paintings:
The Golden Ratio was considered by ancient Greek Architects, mathematicians and philosophers alike to be the ideal proportion echoing the divine. It was used in the Parthenon and it was used in this painting, "Olamic Metamorphosis" along with the Logarithmic Spiral symbolizing The Divine Act of Creation and the spiraling on of cyclical inertia embodying spiritual life.
They along with every other image in these 7 paintings are contained within an oval format in order to maintain and re-emphasize the opening image - "Out of abyss emerges the matrix / Primordial egg of existence / Diaphanous womb of our universe".
A golden rectangle's proportions are "short side : long side" = 1 : 1.618, and the whole rectangle's length is also 1.618 times its height. This constant ratio is what makes it "golden."
I began with a square, then added Φ (phi) - 1.618 to it, then added another square equal to that proportion and continued adding squares in ever growing proportions along the same spiraling path so I could later attach a logarithmic spiral to the growing structure theoretically continually expanding on into infinity.
Φ (phi) is actually 1.618033988749894... - an irrational, non repeating decimal. 1.618 is a rounded off number for convenience. The number actually goes on (so far as we know) to infinity, never stopping. The Logarithmic Spiral, also based on Φ (phi) is seen through out nature. The instances are virtually endless from seashells to the growth of plants, and there are countless more examples.
The Golden Rectangle symbolizes divine, aesthetically perfect, harmonious structured proportion along with the Logarithmic Spiral symbolizing both cyclical inertia and eternal spiritual progression-evolution substantiating The Larks Continuing Flight on to ever increasing spiritual awakening.
4. The Catalyst of Cause and Effect
Olamic metamorphosis impels cyclical inertia
Causation begins
The Imagery: Olamic (pertaining to the world of eternity) anchors the change in deep, timeless motion.
The Concept: The domino effect of the universe starts here. Time, consequence, and physical laws take hold of the spinning cosmos.
5. The Liberation of the Lark
Entrails of the nucleus expand and
Break apart releasing the monad
The lark ascends
The Imagery: The heart of the atom ("nucleus") shatters or opens up to release the monad-a philosophical term for an indivisible, ultimate unit of reality - the individual soul.
The Concept: The breaking of the nucleus acts as a birth-pang, immediately launching the lark into flight. The lark is no longer just a bird; it is the liberated soul, the divine spark rising back toward the heavens of eternal bliss.
6. Song and the Lydian Mode
An ecstatic paean issues forth
Venerating innocence with increasing charm
As resonance illumines Lydian Measures
The Imagery: The lark sings an ecstatic paean (a song of triumph and joy).
The Concept: The reference to Lydian Measures directly nods to musical theory and Vaughan Williams's famous use of the Lydian mode in The Lark Ascending-a scale that often feels floating, pastoral, and suspended in time. The song heals and illuminates the raw innocence of the newly born world.
7. The Pause and the Continuation
The lark sojourns
Till elixirs of lengthening vigilance overflow
Then resumes its journey
The Imagery: The flight isn't linear; the lark rests (sojourns) until its energy and watchfulness (vigilance) fill up with understanding and spiritual enlightenment.
The Concept: A metaphor for the rhythm of spiritual life: periods of active ascension and outward expression balanced with quiet resting, echoing Cyclical inertia, before the soul continues its eternal flight.
Central Themes
Microcosm and Macrocosm: The poem maps the birth of the entire universe directly onto the flight of a single bird, treating physical evolution and spiritual awakening as the exact same event.
Sound as Creation: Like the Word in traditional theology, the lark's song is the physical manifestation of harmony imposing order on cosmic chaos.
An Esoteric Analysis of The Lark Ascending Illustrated Poem
Composed by Ralph (Rafe) Vaughan Williams in 1914 and orchestrated following the First World War in 1920, The Lark Ascending is a pastoral romance for solo violin inspired by George Meredith's poem. While it is widely celebrated as an evocative portrait of pre-war English countryside, listening to it alongside the deeper spiritual undertones of his symphonic works suggests something more intimate. To me, the soaring violin does not just mirror a bird or a lost era; along with the substance of the composition, it captures a profound spiritual yearning to discover one's own inner being.
The one and only addition-revision to the poem in fifty years -
For five decades, both the poem and its visual compositions have undergone continuous revision. A recent and only addition to the text introduces the phrase "in silence" immediately following the line, Instantaneous collisions of energy thunderclap. While the musical score lacks a crescendo powerful enough to mirror a literal thunderclap, this omission actually deepens the poem's emotional weight. It underpins the spiritually serene essence in the profound creative act of love. Ultimately, the juxtaposition introduces a compelling sense of mystery-a "happy accident" I first discovered at The York Academy of Arts and one that continues to bring me immense joy to this day.
When Instantaneous collisions of energy thunderclap in silence- the entire universe is in a state of absolute, undeniable ecstatic bliss. The most precious gift a couple can give one another is to simply "be" with one another in perfect silence, isolated from all the meaningless noise of the world and just "be" in each other's presence in mutual, communal, reciprocal contented happiness. They gift each other with this sacred moment of absolute, contented, ecstatic bliss. That is as close to unconditional agape love as humans (apart from the mystics) will ever receive. It is an epitome of human love verging on the divine.
In its purest form, in its very essence, that is what this poem and its accompanying paintings are all about,,, love. They collectively are about a celebration of light beauty and love. Love is beauty, and beauty is love. They coexist metaphysically to the extent that one cannot be distinguished from the other. Enter in light and all three combine into a wholly trinity. In the beginning there was light. The creative spirit is in essence love, beauty and light. The power of love is omnipotent. This is an eternal truth. Love, beauty and light are inextricably connected and self-contained. They are as eternal as the breath of Creation itself. We recognize ourselves and each other in them. And love is the center and the all powerful creative force manifesting everything.
As an 1977 Fine Art graduate of the York Academy of Arts, I have spent my life immersed in classical music, ballet, art, and literature. This expression of love, inspired by Rafe Vaughan Williams' sublime violin composition, The Lark Ascending, seeks to reveal the interconnectedness between music, ballet, poetry, and visual art. On a deeper level, its intent is to impart the profound spiritual yearning to discover one's own inner being we all secretly aspire to; and in so doing,... we find love.
By pairing evocative imagery with the poem, I invite you to experience them simultaneously while listening to the music. Through this multimedia harmony, the final line of the poem silently evokes the grace of ballet.
In 2002, the poem "The Lark Ascending" was published in the International Library of Poetry anthology, The Solace of Night (Watermark Press, Owings Mills, MD 21117).
Each Original Fine Art Digital Limited Edition Giclée Printed Painting is 21" in height and as a set are offered at $7,755.00. These are Giclée limited editions of 75 printed on heavy 100% rag fine art paper. They each have the edition number, title and the artists own seal printed on them to distinguish them from pirated prints of inferior quality. The artists unique signature is printed directly on the Painting. And they are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
The entire set sells for $7,755.00 unframed. © 2026 CurtisGraphics All Rights Reserved
a love letter
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The Lark Ascending
An Esoteric Analysis of The Lark Ascending Illustrated Poem
a love letter
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